Modular gas lighter with electronic ignition

ABSTRACT

A gas lighter actuated by an electronic ignition system wherein the electronic ignition system as well as the fuel system and battery are provided in the form of modules disposed within the lighter housing. An actuating slide in the electronic circuit module is operably connected to the gas burner valve so that movement of the slide actuates the electronic ignition system and simultaneously operates the burner valve to produce a spark which ignites a flow of gas from the burner valve.

U ited States Patent [191 Toiseux I [11] 3,11,819 May 21, 1974 MODULAR GAS LIGHTER WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION 3,540,823 5/1968 Ebine ct al 431/255 Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Toren, McGeady & Stanger ABSTRACT A gas lighter actuated by an electronic ignition system wherein the electronic ignition system as well as the fuel system and battery are provided in the form of modules disposed within the lighter housing. An actuating slide in the electronic circuit module is operably connected to the gas burner valve so that movement of the slide actuates the electronic ignition system and simultaneously operates the burner valve to produce a spark which ignites a flow of gas from the burner valve.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures MODULAR GAS LIGHTER WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION The present invention relates to gas lighters of the type which utilize a liquefied readily vaporized fuel such as butane and more particularly relates to such gas lighters utilizing an electronic ignition system to produce a spark to ignite a stream of gaseous fuel emanating from a gas burner valve. 1

Lighters of this general type are provided with a pair of spaced electrodes connected to an induction coil supplied with current from a battery and capacitor arrangement. The battery charges the capacitor and a switch closes the circuit between the capacitor and the coil so that the capacitor discharges through the coil where the voltage is amplified to create a spark across a pair of spaced electrodes with the spark igniting the stream of gaseous fuel emanating from the gas burner valve.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved construction for such lighters so that'the assembly and construction of the lighter is simplified and also to simplify the components of the lighter to allow the rapid and easy replacement and repair of the lighter components.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a modular construction for lighters of this general type so that the modular components of the lighter when they are encased in an envelope or shell of the lighter are properly positioned for ready actuation of the lighter and ease of replacement.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the components of the electronic ignition circuit, other than the battery, are housed in a module which is linked by a lever to the burner valve of the fuel tank which forms a separate modular com-' ponent. The switch to actuate the electronic circuitry is cooperatively disposed within the circuit module to be actuated by a slide mechanism which also operates the burner valve.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent after consideration of the following specification when considered in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of the lighter of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view partly in section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the cooperation of the slide mechanism and the burner valve; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electronic circuit of the ignition system.

With reference to the drawings, the lighter of the present invention includes a lighter casing or housing 12 within which are disposed a first module 14 in which is housed an electronic ignition circuit and its components, a second module 16 comprising the fuel tank, burner valve and filling valve and a battery 18 to supply electrical energy for the electronic ignition system and which may be considered to be a third module,

Module 14 includes an induction coil 20 provided with a continuous magnetic core 22 therethrough to provide a magnetic field for the coil 20. Coil 20 thus acts as a transformer to amplify the voltage from battery 18. One end of the coil winding is connected to an electrode 24 which is spaced from a second electrode 26 so that when the lighter is actuated the voltage which has been amplified by coil 20 sparks across the gap between electrodes 34 and 26 to ignite a stream of gaseous fuel emanating from the burner valve as will be described more fully hereinbelow.

A capacitor 28 is also housed within the module 14 and is connected across induction coil 20 and the electrodes 24 and 26 and is also connected across the battery 18.

As seen in FIG. 4, a resistor 30 is connected in the circuit between the battery 18 and the capacitor 28 and the battery is always connected across the capacitor 28. A switch 32 is connected in the circuit between the ca pacitor 28 and the coil 20 so that when the switch 32 is closed to actuate the lighter, the capacitor 28 discharges through the coil 20 where the voltage is amplified and sparks across the electrodes 24 and 26.

With reference now to FIG. 2 as well, it is seen that the module 14 includes a slide assembly 34 adapted to slide within a slide guide 36 of the module 14. Slide assembly 34 includes a thin sheet of electrical conductive material 38 adapted to contact an actuating finger 40 fixed within the module 14 when the slide 34 is moved downwardly to actuate the lighter. When the conductive sheet 38 contacts the actuating finger 40, switch 32 is closed and the circuit is closed through a fixed contact 42 in module 14 so that discharge capacitor 28 is connected across coil 20. Slide 34 is also provided with an extending hub 44 secured to the slide by a pin 46 and, preferably, a decorativecap 48 is mounted within the hub 44 with the assembly of the hub and cap providing a convenient means to be contacted by the user and depressed in order to actuate the lighter. The hub 44 extends outwardly through a suitable opening 50 in the lighter casing 12.

A compression spring 49 is disposed within module 14 between the base 51 of slide 34 and a base ledge 53 of module'l4 to return slide 34 to the position shown in FIG. 2 after the depressant force on the slide to move it downwardly to actuate the lighter is removed. Thus spring 49 returns the slide to its rest position which disconnects switch 32.

A second module 16 comprises a fuel reservoir 52 for the reception of a fuel such as butane and includes a burner valve 54 at its upper end which is operated in a conventional manner by elevating the end of the burner valve to permit the escape of a stream of gaseous fuel. The gaseous fuel as it emanates from burner valve 54 passes between the electrodes 24 and 26 and, when a spark passes between the electrodes the stream of gas is ignited to actuate the lighter.

The burner valve 54 also includes a body 56 within fuel reservoir 52 and a stem58 terminating within a screw member 60 at the base of the fuel reservoir 52 to provide an adjustment to the rate of flow of gaseous fuel from the burner valve 54. A suitable opening 62 is provided in the lighter casing 12 to permit access to the adjustment screw 60.

The fuel tank module 16 also includes a filling valve 64 and filling needle 66 disposed within a recess in the fuel tank module 16 and the lighter casing 12 is provided with an appropriate opening 68 which is closed by a suitable threaded stopper 70.

With reference now to FIG. 3 as well, the burner valve 54 is placed in an operative mode by elevating the valve stem and accordingly, a lever 74 is provided with one end of the lever engaging a collar on the valve stem of the burner valve 54. Lever 74 includes a pair of depending rounded ears 76 which rest atop the fuel reservoir housing and the other end of lever 74 is operably disposed within slide 34 so that when slide 34 is depressed to actuate the lighter, lever 74 rocks on the fulcrum formed by the depending rounded ears 76 to elevate the valve stem of burner valve 54 and open the valve to permit the escape of a stream of gaseous fuel.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a gas lighter with an electronic ignition system wherein the lighter components are housed in separate modules within the lighter casing and wherein the single actuation means to actuate the lighter completes the circuit to activate the electronic ignition means as well as simultaneously opening the burner fuel valve. This is accomplished by a lever operably disposed about the valve stem of the burner valve and within the slide actuating mechanism of the lighter.

What is claimed is:

l. A gas lighter provided with an electronic ignition system comprising a casing to house the lighter components, a first module disposed within said casing, said first module containing said electronic ignition system comprising electrical circuit means and the components of said electronic ignition system including a switch having a first element and a second element, a second module disposed within said casing, said second module comprising a fuel supply system including a housing defining a fuel reservoir, a gas burner valve disposed at one end of said housing in communication with said reservoir and being selectively actuable to open and permit the escape of a stream of gaseous fuel from said reservoir, said first module including a slide mechanism comprising a slide in which is mounted said first element of said switch, said second element of said switch being fixed within said first module, said slide being movable from a first position wherein said first element of said switch is spaced from said second element of said switch fixed within said module to a second position wherein said first element in said slide is in contact with said second element fixed within said housing for closing the circuit of said electronic ignition system for actuating said lighter, means located within said casing and linking said slide mechanism to said burner valve to open said burner valve when said slide mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position for simultaneously actuating said electronic ignition system and said burner valve to operate said lighter, said means linking said burner valve and said slide mechanism comprises an elongated lever extending transversely of the direction of movement of said slide mechanism and having one end arranged in operative engagement with the valve stem of said burner valve and its other end disposed within said slide mechanism operatively connected to said slide, and said lever includes a depending ear having a rounded portion with said ear located interrnediately of and spaced from the ends of said lever, the rounded portion of said ear being supported on the top of said fuel reservoir housing so at the rounded portion is rockable relative to the top of said fuel reservoir housing and the rounded portion acts as a fulcrum for said lever so that movement of said slide mechanism between said first and second positions rocks said lever about the rounded portion effecting the opening and closing of said burner valve.

2. The lighter as defined in claim 1 wherein a spring is disposed within said first module with one end abutting a portion of said module and its other end abutting said slide mechanism for urging said slide mechanism to move from said second position to said first position. 

1. A gas lighter provided with an electronic ignition system comprising a casing to house the lighter components, a first module disposed within said casing, said first module containing said electronic ignition system comprising electrical circuit means and the components of said electronic ignition system including a switch having a first element and a second element, a second module disposed within said casing, said second module comprising a fuel supply system including a housing defining a fuel reservoir, a gas burner valve disposed at one end of said housing in communication with said reservoir and being selectively actuable to open and permit the escape of a stream of gaseous fuel from said reservoir, said first module including a slide mechanism comprising a slide in which is mounted said first element of said switch, said second element of said switch being fixed within said first module, said slide being movable from a first position wherein said first element of said switch is spaced from said second element of said switch fixed within said module to a second position wherein said first element in said slide is in contact with said second element fixed within said housing for closing the circuit of said electronic ignition system for actuating said lighter, means located within said casing and linking said slide mechanism to said burner valve to open said burner valve when said slide mechanism is moved from said first position to said second position for simultaneously actuating said electronic ignition system and said burner valve to operate said lighter, said means linking said burner valve and said slide mechanism comprises an elongated lever extending transversely of the direction of movement of said slide mechanism and having one end arranged in operative engagement with the valve stem of said burner valve and its other end disposed within said slide mechanism operatively connected to said slide, and said lever includes a depending ear having a rounded portion with said ear located intermediately of and spaced from the ends of said lever, the rounded portion of said ear being supported on the top of said fuel reservoir housing so at the rounded portion is rockable relative to the top of said fuel reservoir housing and the rounded portion acts as a fulcrum for said lever so that movement of said slide mechanism between said first and second positions rocks said lever about the rounded portion effecting the opening and closing of said burner valve.
 2. The lighter as defined in claim 1 wherein a spring is disposed within said first module with one end abutting a portion of said module and its other end abutting said slide mechanism for urging said slide mechanism to move from said second position to said first position. 